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WARNING: The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the German Auswärtiges Amt (AA) state that "There is a high threat from terrorism" in Egypt. Three South Korean tourists and their driver were killed at Taba (South Sinai) on 16 February 2014, and the group responsible has threatened further attacks. Women in particular have been subject to rising, and often violent, sexual harassment in Egypt. Female foreign travelers were not spared the experience. "An entire book" could be written about the experiences of female travelers in Egypt, according to Lonely Planet. There is also a rising anti-foreigners sentiment, for example Mervat Al-Talawy (head of Egypt's National Women Council) kicked out a European Union delegation in front of press and to the applause of Egyptian spectators.

In December 2014, a young British girl and her friend were arrested in the Cairo underground because they were speaking English showing that an environment of anti-foreigners sentiment is still on the rise in Egypt.

In January 2014, Amal Clooney was threatened with arrests by Egyptian police if she spoke about politics while in Egypt. Therefore, avoid any political discussion while in Egypt as it can lead to prison.

An American citizen (Michelle Dunne) was denied entry to Egypt as the Egyptian government claimed she did not have the proper visa to attend a conference even though she entered Egypt many times with visa issued at the airport. This is a new incident and there is no government guarantee it will not be repeated.

Despite huge attempts by the Egyptian government, according to media, very few tourists dare to travel to Egypt still.

The Pyramids of Giza

Giza (الجيزة al-Gīza) is a Governorate to the west of the Egyptian capital Cairo - a city in its own right, but for a long time now absorbed as part of the heavily-populated and sprawling Cairo metropolis. Giza is best known as that part of Cairo closest to the world-famous Pyramids of Giza, situated high on the desert plateau immediately to the west of the urban district, itself located in the valley and centred around the Pyramids Road, linking central Cairo with the ancient wonders. One of the premier attractions of Egypt, if not the world, the Pyramids of Giza represent the archetypal pyramid structures of ancient Egyptian civilisation and - together with the Sphinx at the base of the Giza plateau - are the iconic image of Egypt.

The city / district of Giza is important as a secondary - and increasingly popular - option for travellers for food, accommodation and entertainment beyond central Cairo. Most of these services are concentrated along the local transport artery, the Pyramids Road.

The desert plateau of Giza, adjacent to the Pyramids, will eventually form the site of the Grand Museum of Egypt [1] (the competition-winning design conceived by an Irish architectural team led by Shih-Fu Peng), the long-awaited primary replacement for the long-standing Egyptian Museum in Midan Tahrir. Completion has been projected for 2013.

Not much more than a century ago, the Pyramids Road existed as little more than a dusty carriage track amongst irrigated fields, leading out from the city to the then small peasant village of Giza adjoining the pyramid field. Given the rapidly increasing population of Cairo in the 20th century, and the obvious tourist opportunities that the Pyramids provided, Giza has now been transformed beyond recognition to those pioneering Western travellers of the late 19th century. Major arterial roads, apartment blocks, retail strips, restaurants and night clubs now replace what used to be palm-fringed farmers' fields, and the city has now spread to the very limit of the desert plateau. Such rapid development, of course, has not been without its costs - social, economic and aesthetic - and the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities is now making some efforts to control and channel future (re)development in areas closest to the Pyramids themselves.

The three main Pyramids of Giza are the focal point of the Giza necropolis, or cemetery, that served the elite of the Old Kingdom capital of Egypt at nearby Memphis during the mid to late 4th Dynasty (late 3rd millennium BCE). Three pharaohs were buried here in turn - Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure - their astounding burials attracted a number of surrounding associated burials of their queens, family members and nobility.

Metro Line 2 now runs from Cairo to Giza, although it doesn't go all the way to the Pyramids. Get off at "Giza" station (not the terminus!). When you go out from the ticket machine you'll see the ticket window, take the left door then go down the stairs. You will find the pyramids road tunnel in front of you. A shared taxi can be hired, the old VolksWagen cars. A taxi to the pyramids wouldn't be so expensive, and if you take the white taxis they should have a meter. If the driver doesn't run the meter just open the door and pretend like you are getting off and he should run it (he should turn it on before the car moves). The cost is about 15LE for Egyptions, though they will ask you for 50LE at least, so if you give the driver 20LE=3$ will be good for the driver. If you're in a group of 3 or 4 persons give him 5$ and he will be full of happiness. The Pyramids are 8 km, 15-20 min trip due southwest on the long Al-Haram Avenue that the train crosses over just before stopping at the station. That's effectively a 'right turn' from the line you've just been taking. Any number of minibuses and buses go to the site (known as 'al-haram' in Arabic'); they include the green public 900 and 997 buses, but I wouldn't recommend taking public transportation because you can get ripped off and recently Egypt hasn't been the safest place.

The Pyramids may be nearer than you think, so it's possible to take a taxi to the Pyramids from any part of Cairo at a reasonable cost, and it's certainly the fastest and easiest method. There are essentially two options for this, unmetered & metered:

Older black & white taxis "rarely to find now" - meters are not used, so don't forget to haggle. Taxi drivers will nearly always want to take you to see their "brother's" perfume shop, or their "father's" carpet warehouse on the way - if you don't want to waste time doing this, and being put on the spot to make a purchase - just make it very clear that you only want to see the antiquities.

Solid-yellow"rarely to find" and solid-white taxis "most common" - These are metered and air conditioned sometimes. You might save yourself the hassle with the black and white taxis mentioned above, and at almost the same cost, if not less depending on your skill. On the other hand there are stories of drivers of white and yellow cabs fixing the meters, which would hardly be surprising given that it happens all over the world.

From central Cairo, the optimum way to get to the Giza Pyramids using public mass transit options is by bus routes 355 or 357 - a large white, air-conditioned coach with CTA (Cairo Transport Authority) on the side. Travelling every 20 minutes from the airport and Heliopolis, the bus stops (or doesn't - you may have to flag it down!) at the Abdel Menem Riyad Station in Midan Tahrir, next to the Egyptian Museum, before continuing out to Giza and the Pyramids. Tickets costs LE 2 - a bargain!

Even cheaper and more interesting is taking the ordinary buses 900 or 997, costing 1LE, from the big central bus station under the overpasses "please consider that there's no timetable for it maybe you waiting 1 minute or 1 hour", close to the museum. There are three lanes, and they leave from one closest to the rundown controllers' booth (as of late July 2010). Be careful when about getting down "near to the pyramids", you may encounter scammers who take you to their camels instead of to the pyramids don't talk or look to anyone just go directly to the pyramids hill in front of you. For 997, the correct spot is along a long avenue, after you're spotted the Pyramids and the bus has done a U-turn and then turned left — get off when you a see a blue sign for the Light and Sound show.
"Not recommended and there's risk"

There is a restroom located to the right of the ticket booth just before you enter the pyramids. The attendant will demand LE 1 from all foreigners. Another restroom is located near the gift shop in the Solar Barque Museum, though there is no sign and you will have to ask the shopkeeper to open the bathroom door for you. A "W.C." sign located outside of the Sphinx exit will direct you to the right, where a restroom attendant charges foreigners the exorbitant price of LE 3. You can avoid this if you simply go straight and exit the pyramids and use the free bathroom located opposite of the exit on the third floor of the Pizza Hut/KFC restaurant.

All the worthwhile attractions within the Giza area are concentrated on the Giza Plateau at the end of Pyramids Road. Some people are shocked to travel down a street in Giza and see the tip of a Pyramid rise up over the golden arches of a McDonalds with a sign in Arabic - your idea of pyramids rising up out of an empty desert might not match the reality.

There are two ticket offices: the first is near the main entrace, the second - near Sphinx, in the eastern part of the Plateau. If you use the second one in the morning you will avoid crowds of tourists and will have a possibility to explore the Sphinx area all alone in silence. Entry to the site is LE 80, and to enter the pyramids themselves costs another LE 40 for the Pyramid of Menkaure and LE 120 for the Great Pyramid of Khufu. Student IDs will come in handy, giving you a 50% discount. The interior of the pyramids is hot, humid and somewhat claustrophobic, with the passages steep, dusty and hard to move through, and those with any heart or lung issues or a physical handicap will want to steer clear. There are only 2 pyramids open to the public at any given time, while the third pyramid is being restored and they rotate every 2 years. For those willing to brave these conditions, however, it may be an interesting and educational experience. Personally witnessing the interior walls and passage ways of the pyramids gives one an even deeper appreciation of the tremendous achievement accomplished by the builders of these ancient structures. No cameras are allowed into the pyramids. For those on a tight budget, visiting the Pyramid of Menkaure is a very similar experience to visiting the larger pyramid and cheaper.

Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) - the last surviving representative of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, originally 146 m (479 ft) high but now slightly reduced to a still awe-inspiring 137 m (449 ft). Over 2 million blocks of stone were used to construct this edifice, all through manual labour.

Solar Barque Museum - located immediately alongside the southern face of the Great Pyramid, an exceptionally well-done museum showcasing an excavated and reconstructed "solar boat", buried along with the Pharaoh for use on his daily journey with the sun across the sky. Entry LE 40.

Pyramid of Khafre (Chephren) - slightly smaller than the Great Pyramid, though appearing from some angles to appear larger owing to a better position on the desert plateau

Pyramid of Menkaure (Mycerinus) - the smallest of the Giza Pyramids at 62 m (203 ft) high (originally 66.5 m)

Sphinx and the Temple of the Sphinx - the colossal, recumbent human-headed lion was conceived of by the ancient Egyptians as the sun god Re-Horakhty - "Horus of the horizon". The Egyptians call it Abu el-Hol, the "Father of Terror", and even the Greek name Sphinx is the less than pleasant "Strangler". 45 meters long, 22 meters wide, and carved from a single giant block of sandstone, the Sphinx is considerably smaller than the Pyramids around it. The missing nose is blamed on target practice by bored troops, commonly blamed variously on British soldiers in World War I or Napoleon's troops in 1798, but 18th-century drawings showing the nose already missing, pointing the finger towards the occupying Turks.

Various Queens' Pyramids and Nobles' Tombs, located in regimented cemeteries surrounding the royal pyramids. Especially the Tomb of Seshemnufer IV which you can explore from the inside, where you can descend to the sarcophagus and get an idea, how it looks. Since this is not the main object, there are few tourists and it make this visit very interesting.

Not all the Pyramids are equally accessible for interior exploration, the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities closing them to the public at least one at a time for conservation and renovation measures.

Climbing the Pyramids, although once a popular tourist activity, is both now officially forbidden and extremely dangerous - several tourists have met an untimely death attempting to. Some Pyramid guards have been known to turn a blind eye in return for baksheesh in less frequented areas, but this practice has a very negative impact on the pyramids and is strongly discouraged.

It's wise to arrive at the Pyramids at the moment they open, as tour bus activity and (in the summer) the heat quickly make the attractions overrun and difficult to fully enjoy. Since tourism has taken a major hit after the 2011 revolution, many who used to make a living off of this industry are extremely desperate in this day/age. It is a great time to visit as prices are lower and crowds less than in the past, but be prepared for extreme measures such as kids jumping on your car to get you to stop and hire them as a tour guide. It's sad to say, but best option is probably to come as a large group in bus since you'll be better shielded from the hassle.

Do not give up your ticket to anyone outside of the gate checkpoints. You will need to show it to enter through the metal detectors at the entrance to the Pyramids area, Sphinx area, and to enter the Pyramid if you choose to pay for that ticket. There are many folks who will walk up and claim (true or false?) to work for the government and ask to see the ticket/grab it, then take it and try to start a tour for you. Don't think that just because they are doing this in front of the police they are legit. They want to explain things at a fast pace, and then demand a tip. Do not give up your ticket and do not be afraid to stand up for yourself and refuse tip. If you want a tour, better ones can be booked in advance and will offer more accurate details of what you are seeing. (A favorite place for them to lurk is beside the tombs outside the Great Pyramid.)

Before you get on the back of a camel or horse have a look around how they treat their animals. You might change your mind. If you anyway decide to take the offer of one of the horsemen or camel guys, make sure you discuss the price and where you go first. Ask to confirm it covers two people/two horses. Negotiate the price you want. At the end of the trip, when you get back to where you had agreed, get off the horse/camel, hand the man the agreed money and walk away. They will try to come up with all sorts of scams to get more money out of you. If you are happy and wish to give a tip, do it because you choose. Don't feel pressured into giving extra. Just walk away. They won't follow you. It's recommended to arrange camel/horse through your tour guide or with a trusted stable outside the entrance.

Camel Rides. Avoid succumbing to the temptation of taking a camel ride around the Pyramids, if you can, the practice is noisy, smelly and overrated. Basically, there are many better places in Egypt to take a camel ride, if you must. Things are a little better run than they used to be, and the practice of taking tourists out into the desert and refusing to return unless "tipped" is rather rare now.

Go horse riding in the desert to experience both the spirit of the Egyptian horses and the true majesty of the Pyramids seen from outside the 'circus ring' wall. Be careful of touts, however; it's best to ride from one of the better quality stables, like FB Stables. Ride in the shadow of the Great Pyramids or further afield on a half day trip to Saqqara or Abu Sir or camp out over night with a barbecue and fire. You can also watch the Sound and Light show from FB's rooftop terrace! If you do ride with a tout (they will encourage you to do this if the area is closed for entry for example) they will make out that you will have a great view of the pyramids (which you won't), they will then charge you a fortune, ride at high speed through the streets without a helmet (or any regard for safety), they will then demand a tip as you ride back and try to take you to a 'museum' which is actually a shop (where you will be pressured to buy stuff).

See the sunrise, the first sun beams colouring the Pyramids from the terrace on the third floor of a cafe or from the roof terrace of the hostel situated near the second western entrance and ticket-office.

Picture: a good place to take picture of the pyramids is out in the desert. You can get all the pyramids in one frame. It takes around 25-30 minutes to get there. You'll need a horse or a camel.

FB Stables, Gamal Abdul Nasser St, Sphinx (Turn left after the sphinx KFC, then right in Gamal Abdul Nasser Street. FB is the last stables on the left), ☎(+20) 0106 507 0288, [2]. Popular with expats who keep their horses at livery, Karim at FB Stables is also great for a 'tourist' type ride to view the Pyramids and Sphinx from the desert. Longer rides to Saqqara and Abu Sir can be arranged in advance, as can sunrise, sunset and moonlit rides. Other than the horses and good company, one of the best things about FB is their amazing rooftop terrace (with bbq) with unrivalled views over the Pyramids - a great place to relax with a drink whilst watching the Sound and Light shows.edit

great horses - no beating or slapping at FB stables and besides an amazing trip the shisha and Karim's amazing support it was a place to safely say yes without gettin ripped off afterwards!!!!! FB's Abu Sir second stables are very relaxing too!

Pyramids Sound and Light Show (Son-et-Lumière) [3], admission: foreign languages shows LE 130, 90, 75 with discounted 45 ticket only available in the 75 section. The LE 130 and LE 90 tickets are for the 1st and 2nd-3rd rows respectively and may not be worth the added expense. Arabic show LE 11, private shows in foreign languages, LE 65 + LE 300 (covers operating expenses), Arabic private show, LE 16.50 + LE 150. More than slightly kitsch and frequently inaccurate in historical detail, but a worthwhile evening activity nonetheless. The "voice of the Sphinx" narrates the history of the Giza Plateau and its place in Egyptian history, as a dazzling laser display picks out the details of the Pyramids and displays historical scenes on the side of the Great Pyramid itself. If you eat at the Pizza Hut restaurant just outside the entrance to the Sound and Light Show, there's a good chance you'll be offered to watch the show from the roof of the restaurant for a small tip. While it's not as good as watching it from a front row seat inside the fences, it's excellent value for money. As of November 2009, extremely bright lights have been pointed at the roof of the Pizza Hut and various other buildings to get tourists to attend the show. They put projection lights towards the Pizza Hut so it's not easy to see much. Pizza Hut has replied by putting up a barricade on the roof to try to block the light.

Al Amir Perfume Palace, 9 Abu el Houl St., ☎+202 385 4963. An overwhelming smell will hit you as soon as you walk inside, if you can stand the smell for more than a few minute you can find some great deals on perfume.edit

A number of Western fast food options exist immediately opposite the main ticket gates to the Pyramid enclosure, Pizza Hut and KFC included, so you can munch on a Tower burger and sip on a coke in air-conditioned comfort whilst gazing on the 4,000+ year-old Sphinx across the road! Many may prefer a more authentic experience, that said - the novelty of the situation could be interesting.

Andrea. This is a well-known restaurant on the road back to Cairo from Giza, popular with both locals and tourists (busloads will pull up after visiting the pyramids). Specializing in pigeon and chicken grilled a la plancha. Any taxi driver will know where it is..edit

Fish Market, 26 Shar'a al-Nil (Along the Nile, in the same 'boat' as TGI Fridays), ☎+20 2 570 9694. This eatery is located on the Nile, in a docked ship, sharing space with a TGI Friday's below. Popular with locals and tourist visitors, but the food is mediocre, overpriced, and service is haphazard.Moderate to High. edit

Khan El Khalili, Mena House Oberoi hotel. The restaurant has been open for over a century and is far and away the most stylish place for lunch or just a cold beer. Expect to pay Western prices for the privilege.edit

Moghul Room, Mena House Oberoi. An extremely good upmarket Indian restaurant. Reservations necessary.edit

Nile Pharos (Dinner cruise), 138 El Nile St.. The boat features Pharonic decor, and offers a buffet with international and Egyptian cuisine, and belly dancing.edit

General accommodation options are somewhat limited within the Giza district - most travellers tend to stay in and around central Cairo itself and travel out to the Pyramids for at least part of the day. For people determined to stay in close vicinity and / or for whom cost is no issue, there are a number of very comfortable options:

Mena House (formerly Oberoi), Pyramids Rd., ☎+20 2 383 3222, [4]. Built in 1869 as a royal lodge for King Ismail the Magnificent, this magnificent palace has housed guests including Empress Eugenie and Prince Albert. Tastefully restored and located very close to the Pyramids. Rooms in the newer Garden wing from $150, Palace wing rooms from $210; be sure to ask for a room with a view of the Pyramids. The main Pyramids gate is only a 5 minute walk away. The Mena House as of December 31, 2012 is no longer managed by the Oberoi Group.edit

Pyramids View Inn, 10 Sphinx St. Sound and Light Plaza, Giza, ☎+20 01-009761770 (samy@pyramidsviewinn.com), [5]. This bed and breakfast was the owners childhood home and converted into a hostel after the revolution. It boasts a friendly staff who help travelers new to the region with everything from assistance in local shopping (including price negotiations with locals) to organizing tours to the pyramids and other locations. It is a very international friendly environment, with English, German and Spanish all spoken by the staff. There is free wifi and magic jack (which permits free international calls) services. Prices vary but 31 Euro per person double occupancy is common. Easy walking distance from the pyramids and great view of pyramids from the roof. Simple breakfast included and free pickup from the airport. edit

The Giza Pyramids, being the main tourist attraction in Egypt, attract millions of tourists each year. They likewise attract a large number of the most determined opportunists for miles around. Report any instances of harassment by camel drivers and tourist touts to the black-uniformed (or white-uniformed in the summer) Tourist Police immediately, and be prepared for all manner of potential scams, possibly including "advice" from official-looking individuals that an attraction is closed or has an alternate entrance. Also be aware that any "favour" of any kind (offering directions, being shown something, etc) might be done in expectation of a tip, so be cautious when accepting unsolicited help (although don't let your holiday be spoiled by overzealous caution, you also might encounter genuine help). Also note that some Tourist Police might routinely offer to help you in the expectation of a tip. Many known scammers will operate right in front of the tourist police, who are either in on it or don't bother to intervene.

Tips to avoid harassment:

Try to be in group that will better than be alone.

Don't accept any help with taking pictures or posing for pictures for you or takes pictures with Camel or a policeman they will ask you money for that even the police there begging for money and they will see you as an easy target for harassment.

If on your own, headphones make the incessant "Hello, where are you from my friend" conversation-starters easier to ignore, smiling and pointing at the headphones seems to do the trick.

Avoid making eye contact, starting conversations.

Say "La Shukran" (No thanks) as you do this, it shows you know a bit more than the average tourist and will not be seen as aggressive or rude. Smiling as you say it doesn't hurt as it doesn't seem to be seen as an invite to talk, but shows you are not trying to offend.

Additional useful safety tips:

Be cautious when choosing a local horse or camel ride; you may be ripped off or put in dangerous situations. The 'donkey-mafia' that operate by the doors of the main entrance will adopt the most 'persuasive' and often bullish techniques to get you onto their animals, and they do not appear to understand the meaning of the word 'No'. They will cause such a scene when you say no and have to get off them, which will result in you having to pay for the privilege of refusing their hospitality.

Don't climb any of the Pyramids--officially forbidden and extremely dangerous!

As anywhere else in Egypt, in hot months especially, take plenty of bottled water with you (and drink it!), wear a hat and wear sunscreen--sunglasses are also definitely a good idea!

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!